hide
hide
Pronunciation
hide: /haɪd/
Sylla-ble 1: /haɪd/
/h/ - voiceless glottal fricative
/aɪ/ - diphthong, as in "my"
/d/ - voiced alveolar plosive
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: hide
Plural: hides
Verb:
Base form: hide
Third-person singular present: hides
Present participle: hiding
Past tense: hid
Past participle: hidden
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A covering or skin, especially of an animal.
Synonyms: pelt, skin, fur, rawhide
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; refers to a physical object)
A place of concealment, often built or naturally occurring, used for observing wildlife or for security.
Synonyms: blind, cover, shelter, lair, den, retreat
Antonyms: exposure, open, public
Verb
To put or keep out of sight; to prevent from being seen or discovered.
Synonyms: conceal, secrete, mask, obscure, disguise, withhold
Antonyms: reveal, expose, show, display, disclose, uncover
To take shelter or refuge; to remain out of sight or in a secret place.
Synonyms: lurk, skulk, cower, seclude oneself, go into hiding
Antonyms: emerge, appear, show oneself, come out
Examples of Use
Books:
"Harry could hear the tell-tale rustle of the leaves as the creature tried to hide deeper in the dense foliage, its yellow eyes still glinting in the moonlight." (J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)
"The old trapper knew the best way to prepare a deer hide was to stretch it taut and scrape it clean of all flesh before tanning." (Louis L'Amour, The Rider of Lost Creek)
"She felt a tremor of fear and a strong urge to hide herself under the blankets, wishing the terrifying dream would simply dissipate." (Stephen King, The Shining)
Newspapers:
"Police are appealing to anyone with information to come forward, urging those who might be sheltering the suspect to not hide him from justice." (Daily Nation)
"Farmers in Laikipia are turning to improved livestock breeds, noting that a well-cared-for cow can produce a valuable hide for leather production." (The Standard)
"The politician's attempt to hide his financial dealings from public scrutiny ultimately backfired, leading to widespread calls for his resignation." (The New York Times)
Online Publications:
"Tips for beginner photographers: Learn how to effectively use natural light to hide imperfections and highlight your subject." ( Digital Photography School, digital-photography-school.com)
"Researchers have discovered new evidence suggesting ancient humans used animal hides not only for clothing but also for rudimentary shelters." (Archaeology Magazine Online,, archaeology.org)
"The latest software update promises to hide your IP address more effectively, offering enhanced privacy for online users." (TechCrunch, techcrunch.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film (Dialogue): "You can run, but you can't hide!" (Common villainous trope, often heard in action or thriller films like The Fugitive)
Television Series (Description): "In the latest episode of 'Wildlife Wonders,' a cameraman spends weeks in a specially constructed hide to capture rare footage of snow leopards." (BBC Earth, Episode synopsis)
Music (Lyrics): "I can't hide this feeling inside anymore." (From the song "Can't Hide My Love" by Earth, Wind & Fire)
Video Game (Gameplay Mechanic): "Players can hide in tall grass or behind obstacles to ambush enemies or avoid detection." (Assassin's Creed Valhalla, In-game tutorial/description)
General Public Discourse:
"My dog always tries to hide his bone in the most ridiculous places, like under a cushion." (Casual conversation among friends)
"You can't hide from your responsibilities forever; eventually, you'll have to face them." (Parent advising a child)
"The kids love playing hide-and-seek in the park on sunny afternoons." (Common recreational activity description)
"They found a beautiful cow hide rug for their living room, which really tied the whole space together." (Discussion about home decor)
10 Famous Quotes Using Hide
"You can run, but you can't hide." (Joe Louis, to Billy Conn before their 1946 boxing match)
"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main... any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee." (John Donne, Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions, though not using "hide," it speaks to the impossibility of isolation, a metaphorical inability to "hide" from connection)
"The truth will out." (Common idiom, implying that truth cannot ultimately hide)
"We have nothing to fear but fear itself." (Franklin D. Roosevelt, First Inaugural Address, implies that the only thing we should hide from or be afraid of is fear itself)
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." (Maya Angelou, often attributed, speaks to the lasting impact of genuine connection, which cannot be "hidden" by actions or words)
"He who hides his own light, and allows it to be hiden by others, is a coward." (Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, a less common but direct quote)
"Where there is much light, the shadows are deepest." (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, implying that even in openness, there are places where things can "hide")
"It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness." (Chinese Proverb, often associated with Peter Benenson and Amnesty International, urging action rather than passively allowing problems to "hide" in obscurity)
"The best place to hide a dead body is on the second page of Google search results." (Often attributed to SEO experts, a modern metaphorical use highlighting obscurity)
"A guilty conscience needs no accuser." (Common proverb, suggesting that one cannot hide from their own conscience)
Etymology
The word "hide" actually has a fascinating history because it comes from several different origins that ended up sounding and looking similar in English!
Let's break it down:
1. "To Hide" (the verb, meaning to conceal):
This comes from an Old English word, "hȳdan," which meant "to conceal," "to preserve," or even "to bury a corpse."
Its roots go even further back to a much older Germanic language, and then to a very ancient language called Proto-Indo-European (the ancestor of many European and Indian languages). In that ancient language, the root (s)keu- meant "to cover" or "to conceal."
So, the very first meaning was quite literally about putting something out of sight or covering it up. This verb form has been around in English since before the year 1150.
2. "A Hide" (the noun, meaning an animal's skin):
This also comes from Old English, from the word "hȳd," meaning "a hide" or "a skin."
This word, too, can be traced back to the same ancient Proto-Indo-European root (s)keu- meaning "to cover." Think about it: an animal's skin is a natural covering!
So, it's not a coincidence that the verb "to hide" and the noun "a hide" look and sound alike; they both share a very old common ancestor related to the idea of "covering." This noun form has also been in use since before 1150.
3. "A Hide" (the noun, meaning a measure of land – now mostly historical):
This is a separate origin! This "hide" comes from the Old English word "hīd" or "hīġid."
This literally meant the amount of land that was considered enough to support one free family and their household. It varied in size but was often around 60 to 120 acres.
This word is linked to older Germanic words referring to a "household" or "family." You can see the connection: a "hide" of land was what a "household" needed. This meaning was also in use before 1150.
In simple terms, while we use "hide" in common ways today, its origins are very old and somewhat intertwined, mainly stemming from the idea of "covering" for the verb and animal skin, and a distinct, but similarly sounding, origin for the old land measurement.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Hide
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "hide," or synonyms for similar effect:
Hide and seek: A children's game where one person counts while others conceal themselves.
To hide one's light under a bushel: To conceal one's talents or abilities.
To hide behind something/someone: To use something or someone as an excuse or cover.
There's no hiding place: Meaning there's nowhere to escape or conceal oneself.
To hide one's true feelings: To conceal one's emotions.
To hide in plain sight: To be hidden or go unnoticed despite being in an obvious place.
To tan someone's hide: To spank or beat someone, especially a child (often playfully or as a threat).
To get under one's hide: To annoy or irritate someone deeply (using "hide" as skin).
To have a thick hide: To be insensitive to criticism or insults.
To hide the truth: To deliberately conceal facts or information.
To hide one's head in the sand: To ignore or refuse to acknowledge an obvious problem.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of hide from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
